The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-05-05

AFTER expressing symp amy lor ni'
present condition and hopes for hi
speedy recovery, the reporter re-
quested Mr.. jenkins to retire will
him to another room, when the fol
lowing facts we're obtained relative
to the life history of Walter Ridgely
and bis recent troubles with th'
Murphys ;
Ridgely was born in Red Rive
county, in the state of Texas, in th'
year 1866, and is therefore now 3.
years of age.
The story Of bis cloeh with th'
Murphys is best told rs follows
Two brothers, joel and Robert
Murphy, kopt ferry at Ropemeyor''
store, some eight miles west Of tht
Ride ely plantation, and the regulol
fee for crossing man and hors,
was fifty cents. On Wednesday
March 2 last, q drummer on horse,
back crossed the river there aud was
charged the usual price. of half a
dollar. Having transacted his bus
mess in the Indian Nation, which is
on The north side Of tho river, be
returned to The ferry the next day,
and, calling the ferry,men, was res
crossed to the Texas eide. When
tho landing was reached tho drum
mer put his hand in bis pocket, and
taking out fifty cents haLded it to.
ward one Of the men, who coolly in
formed him that The charge was 80
and that he must pay it, Astonish-
ed beyond measure, the drummer
told them that he would not pay il,
The MurpEys said 1: "All right; We
will just keep this Indicating the
drumwer's sample case), until You
DO pay it," They quietly and in a
very business.like manner tied the
5oat TO the Texas bank aud leisursly
ascending the hill to tho store OF
Ropemeyer, ,oue Of them carrying the
sample case and the drummer fol-
lowing.
All entered the store, where's
usual at ! that .houra a"f dfdM6Hg oih6tc
mers taking about their crops,
prospects for rain sc. The drum.
mer renewed his argument with the
ferrymen and for the edifcation Of
the crowd present rehearsed the
ferry-boat trans C ton. Walter
Ridgely was ono OF the listeners,
and whom tho drummer had ended
bis story he inquired ofthe Murphys
if what the knight of tho road had
iust stated was correct, and received
from them an answer in the aflirma,
tive. Ridgely then told that, ns the
drummel's time was valuable and he
was in hurry, it would not be OK,
actly the proper thing to"carry their
joke Qor such he thought it was at
that tilne)any further, and that they
had best take the fifty cents and
give up the sample case and let the
nun &C."
at this both men became quite
indignant, and informed Rdgely
that ho would 10 well TO mind bis
own business, and that whenever
they should need bis advice or as
sistance in running their ferry they
would let him know. To this Ridg-
ely responded with spirit telling
them they ought to be ashamed OF
themselves for trying to impose ups
on a friendless stranger, and that if
they were really serious about the
matter they had better take his adj
vice as aleady given or they would
run the risk of answering to the
Grand Jury.
At this both men sprang at Ridg-
ely, and the latter, who is fine
specimen Of physical manhood,
knocked tho foremost one down.
The other halted and reached for
his pistol, but Ridgely, who saw
bis intention, succeeded in getting
his revolver out first, and fired,
shooting his assailant through the
heart aud dropping him dead in bis
tracks, The other Murphy by this
Time had regained his feet, and see
ing what had happened made
motion as if to draw bis pistol, when
he too was mortally wounded by
Ridgely and died the next day.
Ridgely Immediately gave himself
up to the Sheriff, md upon prelimi-
nary examination was discharged on
The ground of self defense.
John Murphy, brother of the
men killed, and an uncle, Thomas,
snnn after cama into the peighbor-